Knockdown fly-trap.



A. E. CHAPMAN.

KNOCKDOWN FLY TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 11. 1913.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHom-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. c

ALONZO E. CHAPTJLAN, OF REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA.

KNOGKDOVVN FLY-TRAP.

Application filed December, 11, 1913.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALONZO E. CHAPMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at iledlands, in the county of San Bernardino and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful. Knockdown Fly-Trap, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to fly traps, being more particularly of the typeof fly trap which is placed out of doors adjacent buildings, the traphaving capacity to hold a large quantity of flies. It is particularlydesirable for the manufacturer to have a fly trap of the characterdescribed of such construction that a great number of such traps may beshipped in small bulk and one of the main objects of my invention is toproduce a fly trap which may be quickly and easily partly disassembledfor shipping purposes, and in attaining such object provide simplefastening means for securing the parts so disassembled.

In using traps which are placed out of doors very frequently the trapsare accidentally knocked over and, in some cases the same are blown overby the wind, and another object of my invention is to provide a fly trapof the character described which has a comparatively heavy base togetherwith a top or trap member which presents a gradually lessening surfaceto wind pressure from the base member to the top thereof.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes; Figure 1is a perspective view of a fly trap embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is anenlarged cross sectional view of the lower portion of the trap shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3-is an enlarged sec-' tional plan view on line w :1:Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the fillingblocks and adjacent parts thereto. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectionalview showing the discharge gate of the trap and manner of mounting same.Fig. 6 is an end view of the cage member in flattened position ready forshipping. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the cage member in flattenedposition. Fig. 8 is a view of several base members of the trap as placedfor shipping.

My fly trap comprises a base member 1, and a cage member 2, the basemember 1 being substantially square in plan and the cage member 2forming substantially a pyramid of screen material, the base of which issecured to the top of the base member 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20 1e15,

Serial No. 805,944.

The base member 1 consists of a horizontal wooden floor 3 secured bymeans of nails or screws 4 within a support 5 consisting of a sheetmetal band which surrounds the floor 3. The upper edge of the band 5extends a short distance above the floor 3 and the lower edge of theband 5 is adapted to rest on the ground or pavement, not shown, the band5 extending below the floor 3 a sufficient distance to support the floor3 several inches above the ground and to permit a series of holes" oropenings 6 to be placed in the band below the floor 3.

7 designates four strips of wood secured to the upper face of the floor3 by means of nails 8 to form a flange spaced apart from the upper edgeof the band 5 and forming a recess 9 therebetween adapted to receive thelower end of the cage member as here inafter described. circularentrance openings 10 are formed in the floor 3 of the trap over each ofwhich is placed a cone 11 of screen having a small opening 12 at the topthereof and having the lower edge thereof bent outwardly in the form ofa circular flange 13 by means of which the respective cones 11 aresecured to the face of the floor 3 by means of nails 14. A. dischargeopening 15 is provided in the floor 3 for emptying the trap which isclosed by means of a sliding gate 16 slidably mounted in guides 17secured in any suitable manner to the underside of the floor 3 at eachside of the opening 15.

The cage member 2 comprises a pyramid of screen open at the bottom andhaving its sides formed of two pieces of screen 20, each of which iscreased or bent as indicated at 21 to form one edge of the pyramid. Thevertically extending adjacent edges 22 of each screen 20 are clampedrespectively to the posts 23 of the cage member by means of strips ofwood 2a which are secured to the posts 23 by means of nails 25. Theposts constitute a frame for the screen portion of the cage member, theupper end of the posts overlapping each other and being pivotallyconnected at such point by means of a pin or screw 26. The lower ends ofthe screen members 20 extend into the recess 9 and fit against the outerface 27 of the wooden strips 7, the face of the strips 7 being beveledto correspond to the angle of the screens 20. When the screens 20 are soplaced the lower ends of the respective posts 23 rest upon the floor 3with the recess 9,

In the form shown two extend upwardly through the floor 3 into therespective lower ends of the posts 23.

For the purpose of holding the lower ends.

of the screen members 20 against the strips 7 filler blocks 29 areemployed which are placed in the recess 9 between the screens and theupper end of the band 5, thereby forming a tight closure between thecage member 2 and the base member 1.

The trap above described operates as follows: Bait is placed in a sauceror pan indicated at 30 in dotted lines, see Fig. 2, under the floor 3 ofthe trap, and the flies enter the trap through the openings 6 in thebase. After feeding, the flies travel toward the most light which entersthe base member through the openings 10 in the floor 3. The flies alight on the inner side of the cones 11 and pass upwardly into the'cagemember 2 through the openings 12 in the top of the cones. There being nooutlet from the cage member 2 except through the openings 2 in the cones11 the flies starve to death and fall to the floor of the trap, it beingunderstood that flies rarely travel downwardly through small openingssuch as the openings 12 in the top of the cones 11. After a number ofdead flies accumulate in the trap they may be removed by opening thedoor 16.

When it is desired to ship a number of traps the cage members 2 of therespective traps are removed from their respective base members, byremoving the screws 28 after which the base members may be placed in acompact package one above another as indicated in Fig. 8. The cagemembers are then each flattened out as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, byspreading the lower ends of the posts 23, and placed one above anotheras shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, the upper or apex end of one cagemember being placed on the bottom end of the cage member thereunder. Itis to be noted that the bent edge 21 of the screens 20 is not deformedby spreading the posts 23 to the position shown in Figs. (5 and 7 andwhen it is desired to set up the traps the lower ends of the posts 23are moved toward each other until the screens 20 form a pyramid afterwhich the cage member may be fastenedto its respective base'member asheretofore described.

That I claim is:

1. A knock-down fly trap comprising a detachable base member havingentrance opies of this patent may be obtained for means therein and acage member comprising two flat pieces of screen with a pair of hingedposts secured to the edges thereof.

2. A knock-down fly trap comprising a square detachable base memberhaving ontrance openings therein, and a cage member formed of a pyramidof wire cloth with two hinged posts secured to opposite corners thereof.

3. A knock-down fly trap comprising a square detachable base memberhaving entrance openings therein, and a detachable cage member formed oftwo flat pieces of wire cloth bent in pyramid form and having posts atthe two opposite corners thereof, said posts being hinged together bymeans of a bolt at the apex of the pyramid.

4:. A knock-down fly trap comprising a square detachable base memberhaving en.- trance openings therein, a cage member formed of two flatpieces of screen bent into pyramid form, posts secured at oppositecorners of said pyramid, said posts being hinged together by means of abolt at the apex of the pyramid and means for detachably securing saidcage and said posts to said base.

5. A knock-down fly trap comprising a flat base having entrance meanstherein, and

a cage member detachably secured to said.

base and adapted to be folded flat when not in use.

6. A knock-down fly trap comprising a flat base having a projectingledge formed on the upper surface thereof, a detachable and folding cagemember adapted to fit closely against said base and to extend over saidledge, and filler members adapted to be detachably secured outside saidcage member and adjacent to said ledge.

'7. A knock-down fly trap comprising a flat base having a ledge formedon the upper surface thereof, a thin band secured to the edge of saidbase and projecting above the top of said base, a detachable and foldingcage member adapted to fit closely against said base outside said ledge,and filler blocks adapted to fit between said band and said ledgeoutside the cage member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Redlands,California, this 5th day of December, 1913.

ALONZO E. CHAPMAN.

In presence of C. P. 11001:, L. H. J ONES.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C.

